The Wayside Inn is a nonprofit charitable Massachusetts corporation created in 1944 to own, operate, and maintain the Wayside Inn Historic Site, a campus of 9 historic buildings on more than 100 acres. Its mission promotes early American humanities through hospitality, education, and programming, and continues an innkeeping tradition dating back to 1716. The site provides an opportunity for visitors from near and far to gather, engage, and find meaning, relevance, and inspiration through a place-based exploration of history.
From its 18th century beginnings as an important stagecoach stop, to its 19th century immortalization by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, to Henry Ford's expansion and historic preservation of the property as a living museum of American history in the 20th century, The Wayside Inn offers the 21st century visitor a unique window into over 300 years of American history.
The nine historic structures on our campus and under our care include:
Our majestic 100+ acre property is blessed with lush meadows, grassy fields, pine forests, babbling brooks, and beautiful ponds making it a peaceful and idyllic New England landscape seemingly lost in time. Explore our beautiful grounds with our trail map or enjoy a picnic on the lawn in front of the stone Grist Mill, listening to the rush of its soothing waterfall.
While private property, The Wayside Inn campus is free to access and enjoy and is maintained by The Wayside Inn Foundation through hospitality revenue and generous support from visitors like you.
President
Gary is a corporate transactional attorney, businessman and angel investor with extensive legal and commercial management and operational experience. He is an accomplished leader in building successful teams, scaling companies, and managing risks and complex transactions, with particular expertise working with high tech startups. In addition to serving on the board of The Wayside Inn Foundation, he is president of the board of trustees of Danforth Art Alliance, Inc., which supports the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University. Gary and his wife, Doris, live in Sudbury in a home that was formerly part of The Wayside Inn School for Boys, which sparked his interest in getting involved with The Wayside Inn.
Vice President Chair of Executive and Governance Committee
Ted grew up in Wayland, was married in the Martha-Mary Chapel, and has long enjoyed The Wayside Inn and the beautiful grounds around it. Professionally, he has been an executive sales leader for several enterprise business software organizations, including Cognos, and IBM for 30 years. Ted’s interests as a Trustee center around Development, Fundraising and greater community connections through the Inn’s values around preservation, culture, and self-sustainment. He lives in Sudbury with his wife, Biene, and has 3 children.
Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee
Michele is a certified public accountant and a Senior Director at RSM US LLP in the assurance practice group. Her work focuses on nonprofit clients in the education, international non-governmental organizations, health and welfare, and foundation sectors in the area of auditing and financial consulting. In addition to serving on the board of The Wayside Inn Foundation, she is treasurer of the board of trustees of Danforth Art Alliance, Inc., which supports the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University. Michele lives in Ashland with her family.
Clerk and Chair of Facilities Committee
Mark is an attorney who specializes in complex real estate transactions, zoning, and permitting issues in the greater Boston metropolitan area. He is a long time director of the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, and has previously chaired its Government Affairs Committee. Mark is a past resident of Sudbury (30 years) where he was active in local government and civic associations, including service on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Resource Recovery Committee, Earth Removal Board, and the Community Preservation Committee. He currently lives with his wife, Jody, in central Massachusetts in an early 19th-century period reproduction home.
Trustee
Jon is committed to the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. He is a patron of the arts and an avid collector of American antiques from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. His latest projects have been restoring “Leyden Cottage” an 1852 Gothic revival estate in Carver, MA and “Deerfoot” an 1847 Estate, 2nd-Empire French mansion located in Southborough, MA. He serves as a Trustee on the Sippican Historical Society in Marion, MA where he resides with his wife and children.
Trustee
John is a professional geologist and a licensed site professional who holds degrees in chemistry and geology. He is a principal partner at Environmental Resources Management, a global environmental consultancy. John specializes in hazardous waste site remediation and the siting and permitting of critical facilities and renewable energy projects. He has more than 30 years of public service to the citizens of Sudbury including 27 years as a selectman and past member of the Planning Board. He is currently chairman of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Design Committee. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association Energy and Environment Committee that assists cities and towns working with the Commonwealth on these matters. John and his wife Patty have lived in town for more than forty years and currently live in a historic farmhouse constructed in 1820. Together they have celebrated many family events at the Inn, including the marriage of their daughter at The Martha-Mary Chapel and reception at the Inn. John especially enjoys driving around town in his 1952 MGTD antique roadster, spending time on the coast of southern Maine and relishes time with his three young grandchildren who also live in Sudbury.
Trustee and Co-Chair of Development Committee
Katina Fontes is a doctoral student in Educational Studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she also teaches in the Graduate School of Education. Her research focuses on instructional methods that foster college classroom dialogue and promote life-long civic engagement. A former college instructor in the history and culture of the Americas, Katina is passionate about the design of educational programming that highlights the relevance of local history to modern-day life. Born in Athens, Greece and raised in Van Meter, IA, she currently resides in Sudbury, MA with her husband, Silvestre.
Trustee and Co-Chair of Development Committee
Following a successful career as an attorney, retail operator, and IT entrepreneur, Lily Gordon dedicates her time to community services, continuing a lifelong passion for supporting arts, education and safety on both local and state levels. She has been an active board member on, and fundraiser for, numerous organizations focusing on arts, education, human rights and safety, including the Goodnow Library in Sudbury, Young Audiences of Massachusetts, and The Wayside Inn Foundation, where she has served in many board positions, including as board president. Lily has received a number of awards and citations for her public service over the years, and resides in Sudbury.
Trustee and Chair of Marketing & Branding Committee
Shervin is a long-time customer experience and branding professional. He started a successful design and advertising agency before moving to IBM where he was the first Global Chief Creative Officer for IBM Interactive. Shervin has led creative, branding, and customer experience engagements for some of the world’s most familiar brands including Samsung, PepsiCo, American Express, Pfizer, JP Morgan Chase, and Prudential. He has also worked with numerous startups to help in developing their brands and customer experience strategies. He currently owns Emersify a curated travel and events agency, and S B Hawley Design. Shervin has a passion for American History, and is a member and leader of many lineage societies. Shervin has traveled to more than 100 countries and lived in 23 locations across the world and is proud to call his favorite of all, Sudbury, home. He lives in the historic Bigelow Parsonage (1773) in Sudbury Town Center with his wife Carrie, whom he married at The Wayside Inn. He is a direct descendent of many of Sudbury’s first families including the Hows.
Trustee Chair of Hospitality and Operations Committee
Tom Prince is a 30 year resident of Sudbury and, more recently, North Framingham. As the founder of Tomasso Trattoria in Southborough, Tom brings extensive restaurant and hospitality experience to the Board. He is particularly excited to help translate the traditions and history of The Wayside Inn to meet the tastes and expectations of today's guests.
Trustee and Chair of Programming Committee
Jim is an executive vice president of a convertible bond manager serving institutional and high net worth clients. He is a Certified Financial Planner with investment management experience working with several non-profit organizations. He is a director of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, the incipient Massachusetts Air & Space Museum, Sudbury American Legion Post 191, and president of the 76 Club of Boston. He is a graduate of West Point, George Washington University, Babson College, and Boston University. A retired Colonel in the US Army he is also a colonial reenactor with the Sudbury Militia and Minute Companies that meet, drill, and host living history events at The Wayside Inn. He and his family have lived in Sudbury for over 36 years.
President
Gary is a corporate transactional attorney, businessman and angel investor with extensive legal and commercial management and operational experience. He is an accomplished leader in building successful teams, scaling companies, and managing risks and complex transactions, with particular expertise working with high tech startups. In addition to serving on the board of The Wayside Inn Foundation, he is president of the board of trustees of Danforth Art Alliance, Inc., which supports the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University. Gary and his wife, Doris, live in Sudbury in a home that was formerly part of The Wayside Inn School for Boys, which sparked his interest in getting involved with The Wayside Inn.
Vice President Chair of Executive and Governance Committee
Ted grew up in Wayland, was married in the Martha-Mary Chapel, and has long enjoyed The Wayside Inn and the beautiful grounds around it. Professionally, he has been an executive sales leader for several enterprise business software organizations, including Cognos, and IBM for 30 years. Ted’s interests as a Trustee center around Development, Fundraising and greater community connections through the Inn’s values around preservation, culture, and self-sustainment. He lives in Sudbury with his wife, Biene, and has 3 children.
Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee
Michele is a certified public accountant and a Senior Director at RSM US LLP in the assurance practice group. Her work focuses on nonprofit clients in the education, international non-governmental organizations, health and welfare, and foundation sectors in the area of auditing and financial consulting. In addition to serving on the board of The Wayside Inn Foundation, she is treasurer of the board of trustees of Danforth Art Alliance, Inc., which supports the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University. Michele lives in Ashland with her family.
Clerk and Chair of Facilities Committee
Mark is an attorney who specializes in complex real estate transactions, zoning, and permitting issues in the greater Boston metropolitan area. He is a long time director of the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, and has previously chaired its Government Affairs Committee. Mark is a past resident of Sudbury (30 years) where he was active in local government and civic associations, including service on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Resource Recovery Committee, Earth Removal Board, and the Community Preservation Committee. He currently lives with his wife, Jody, in central Massachusetts in an early 19th-century period reproduction home.
Trustee
Jon is committed to the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. He is a patron of the arts and an avid collector of American antiques from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. His latest projects have been restoring “Leyden Cottage” an 1852 Gothic revival estate in Carver, MA and “Deerfoot” an 1847 Estate, 2nd-Empire French mansion located in Southborough, MA. He serves as a Trustee on the Sippican Historical Society in Marion, MA where he resides with his wife and children.
Trustee
John is a professional geologist and a licensed site professional who holds degrees in chemistry and geology. He is a principal partner at Environmental Resources Management, a global environmental consultancy. John specializes in hazardous waste site remediation and the siting and permitting of critical facilities and renewable energy projects. He has more than 30 years of public service to the citizens of Sudbury including 27 years as a selectman and past member of the Planning Board. He is currently chairman of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Design Committee. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association Energy and Environment Committee that assists cities and towns working with the Commonwealth on these matters. John and his wife Patty have lived in town for more than forty years and currently live in a historic farmhouse constructed in 1820. Together they have celebrated many family events at the Inn, including the marriage of their daughter at The Martha-Mary Chapel and reception at the Inn. John especially enjoys driving around town in his 1952 MGTD antique roadster, spending time on the coast of southern Maine and relishes time with his three young grandchildren who also live in Sudbury.
Trustee and Co-Chair of Development Committee
Katina Fontes is a doctoral student in Educational Studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she also teaches in the Graduate School of Education. Her research focuses on instructional methods that foster college classroom dialogue and promote life-long civic engagement. A former college instructor in the history and culture of the Americas, Katina is passionate about the design of educational programming that highlights the relevance of local history to modern-day life. Born in Athens, Greece and raised in Van Meter, IA, she currently resides in Sudbury, MA with her husband, Silvestre.
Trustee and Co-Chair of Development Committee
Following a successful career as an attorney, retail operator, and IT entrepreneur, Lily Gordon dedicates her time to community services, continuing a lifelong passion for supporting arts, education and safety on both local and state levels. She has been an active board member on, and fundraiser for, numerous organizations focusing on arts, education, human rights and safety, including the Goodnow Library in Sudbury, Young Audiences of Massachusetts, and The Wayside Inn Foundation, where she has served in many board positions, including as board president. Lily has received a number of awards and citations for her public service over the years, and resides in Sudbury.
Trustee and Chair of Marketing & Branding Committee
Shervin is a long-time customer experience and branding professional. He started a successful design and advertising agency before moving to IBM where he was the first Global Chief Creative Officer for IBM Interactive. Shervin has led creative, branding, and customer experience engagements for some of the world’s most familiar brands including Samsung, PepsiCo, American Express, Pfizer, JP Morgan Chase, and Prudential. He has also worked with numerous startups to help in developing their brands and customer experience strategies. He currently owns Emersify a curated travel and events agency, and S B Hawley Design. Shervin has a passion for American History, and is a member and leader of many lineage societies. Shervin has traveled to more than 100 countries and lived in 23 locations across the world and is proud to call his favorite of all, Sudbury, home. He lives in the historic Bigelow Parsonage (1773) in Sudbury Town Center with his wife Carrie, whom he married at The Wayside Inn. He is a direct descendent of many of Sudbury’s first families including the Hows.
Trustee Chair of Hospitality and Operations Committee
Tom Prince is a 30 year resident of Sudbury and, more recently, North Framingham. As the founder of Tomasso Trattoria in Southborough, Tom brings extensive restaurant and hospitality experience to the Board. He is particularly excited to help translate the traditions and history of The Wayside Inn to meet the tastes and expectations of today's guests.
Trustee and Chair of Programming Committee
Jim is an executive vice president of a convertible bond manager serving institutional and high net worth clients. He is a Certified Financial Planner with investment management experience working with several non-profit organizations. He is a director of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, the incipient Massachusetts Air & Space Museum, Sudbury American Legion Post 191, and president of the 76 Club of Boston. He is a graduate of West Point, George Washington University, Babson College, and Boston University. A retired Colonel in the US Army he is also a colonial reenactor with the Sudbury Militia and Minute Companies that meet, drill, and host living history events at The Wayside Inn. He and his family have lived in Sudbury for over 36 years.
The Wayside Inn Foundation is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization responsible for the care and maintenance of over 100 acres and nine historic buildings including Longfellow's Wayside Inn.
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